Panama’s President Mulino Delivers Housing and Launches a Road Plan in Aguadulce
The president handed over the first 56 homes of the 19 de Octubre project, located in the Barrios Unidos district.
The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, delivered long-awaited housing solutions this Wednesday and gave the order to proceed with the road rehabilitation plan for the benefit of the population of the Agradulce district of the province of Coclé. The president handed over the first 56 homes of the 19 de Octubre project located in the Barrios Unidos district, to its happy beneficiaries during a public event held in the Importadora Americana event hall. More than 250 people of all ages will benefit from this first delivery. In total, the development will offer 181 homes for approximately 905 people. The president emphasized that this is another project his administration is taking up again after it had been abandoned by previous governments.
“Many Panamanians are demanding a home of their own, and seeing this neglect while paying rent is upsetting; it hurts to see such an attitude in the face of need… I hope to be the president who takes a step toward ensuring that everything that is started is completed, regardless of who occupies the presidential chair,” Mulino said. The houses consist of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living-dining room, a kitchen, a laundry room, a porch and an access ramp for people with disabilities. This project, led by R y N, is being developed on a six-hectare plot of land. The new residents will have access to drinking water and other basic services. The development will also include two lots for commercial areas, a sports court , two recreational parks for children, concrete streets, an Infoplaza and a treatment plant. The families benefiting from these homes were assessed by Ministry of Social Development staff to confirm their need for a housing solution.
Major Rehabilitation of Internal Streets
At the same event, President Mulino, accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, José Luis Andrade, announced the start of the rehabilitation project for 106 internal streets in the district of Aguadulce, totaling 29.7 kilometers. The project was awarded to the Aguadulce Consortium (Constructora Meco, SA and Constructora Meco Panamá, SA). The contract is valued at $10,335,905.28 and must be completed within 540 calendar days, with an additional 36-month maintenance period. The event was also attended by the Minister of Housing and Land Management, Jaime Jované; the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Herrera; the Governor of Coclé, Irving González; and Mayor Cristian Eccles.
Progress in Health, Energy and Drinking Water Projects
In addition to these projects, President Mulino highlighted the promotion of important projects for the province of Coclé. “In the health sector, we are making steady progress in the construction of the new Aquilino Tejeira Hospital, an investment of $214 million, with progress of more than 73% ,” he explained. This hospital will benefit more than 180,000 people throughout the province and will have 256 beds, 39 consulting rooms, 6 operating rooms, 6 intensive care units, and modern services, which will reduce the need to travel to the capital for medical care. In terms of electricity, through the Universal Energy Access Program, the Government has brought solutions to communities in Natá, Antón, Penonomé, La Pintada, Olá and San Pedro .
“There are three simultaneous projects with an investment of more than $8.6 million, benefiting more than 8,000 Panamanians,” Mulino emphasized. Regarding drinking water, he highlighted water infrastructure projects totaling more than $42 million, which will benefit tens of thousands of families in Coclé. These works include the rehabilitation and modernization of the Penonomé, Capellanía (Aguadulce), Natá, and San Carlos water treatment plants . All of these facilities have operational deficiencies after years of deterioration and lack of maintenance, so their restoration is essential to improve the quality and continuity of service.
The contract for the studies, designs, rehabilitation works, operation and maintenance was awarded to the WP Operating Consortium (BTD Proyectos 12, SA and Acciona Agua, SA). Once the order to proceed is issued, work is estimated to begin during the first months of 2026, with a total duration of 48 months and an estimated completion date of December 2029. This investment will benefit some 100,000 people, 87,000 of whom are residents of Coclé. The rehabilitation of the Farallón water treatment plant, being carried out by Cox Energy, SA, is also progressing. With an investment of $3.6 million, this project will benefit 2,554 residents and thousands of tourists who visit the area’s hotels.
